Logan Day was on the phone with his mother. He rolled his eyes as she continued to express the concern she had for him.
He had grown up in a small town along the Susquehanna River. Logan had also gone to church every Sunday morning and night with his parents as did most of the town. He loved his mom but knew she had a very specific view of how things should be. He did not share that view even though a part of him knew she was right.
In the years since he had left that small town, he had acquired fame and fortune. Many things he grew up with stayed with him others fell along the path. He was not by any means a playboy, but he did enjoy female companionship from time to time. He donated to charity and did his part to help the poor. Logan was a good person.
He was just getting ready to defend himself when he heard his mother gasp. “Dear God!”
Alarm rose up inside Logan. “Are you ok Mom?”
“I just turned on the news. A little girl has broken through the ice. She is not going to make it much longer……Dear God no!” she gasped into the phone again.
“What Mom what is going on?” His alarm continued to grow.
“I know that young lady. My friend’s daughter just jumped into the water after the child. Her name is Helen. Logan, she will never make it. Wait! It looks like she has a rope or something tied to her and a few men are holding it.”
His mother continued to give play by play. She gasped again. “The child let go of the ice she went under.”
Logan’s mom was sobbing now as she continued to describe what she was seeing. “Helen went under the water! Where is she? I see the rope but not her. Where is she?”
“Mom please you need to calm down. Turn it off and wait to hear what happens. This kind of excitement can’t be good for you.” Logan started to plead with real concern. He may not agree with his mother, but he loved her. He hated hearing her cry.
“I see Helen! She has the child! They are pulling her in to the shore.” Elaina said excitedly as she sobbed.
“Mom turn it off! You can’t get this excited.” Logan beseeched again with a firmer voice.
“They made it to shore. Helen looks fine. She looks like she is giving CPR to the child.” Elaina ignored her son’s request.
“Please, Mom…” Logan begged once more.
Elaina reluctantly gave in to Logan’s pleas. “OK it is off now,” she said sounding out of breath.
“Are you ok?” Logan asked softly.
“I am fine, Logan. I just had to see her make it to shore. I love Helen. She is special.” Elaina said softly.
“That Helen girl should have known better than to go into that icy water. Didn’t her dad teach her anything?” Logan said with anger.
“He did. You knew him, Chester Kiser. With Helen, it does not matter. If you knew her, you would know she would give her life before she watched a child die.” Elaina defended her young friend.
“She sounds just plain stupid to me. Did she even know the child?” Logan’s voice was still angry.
“I don’t know if she did or not. It still would not have made a difference. She is not afraid to die. Helen is a Christian. There is something about her relationship with Christ that touches people around her. It is like she truly sees Him as all she needs.” His mother finished softly. Elaina knew he hated talking about Christ.
“Are you going to be ok?” Logan changed the subject. He did not know why, but hearing his mom talk about this girl made him more uncomfortable than when she spoke to him about where he was in his Christian walk.
“I am fine now. Thank you Logan I love you.” Elaina assured him.
“I love you too.” Logan hung up the phone. His mind was trying to picture a girl that would give no thought to herself and save a person in need. He wondered if he would have stepped up and done something. Logan hung his head a bit ashamed as he realized the answer was probably no. If he had to be honest, he could not do it because Logan knew he was not ready to die. That thought gave him, for just a moment, pause.